Bandage



May 25, .1948. c. s. BEARDsLEY 2,442,111

BANDAGE Filed May e, 1946 Patented May 25, r194,8

NrffFFl'c'Ef BANDAGEv Y Charles S. Beardsley,l Elkhart, Ind. Application May 6, 1946, serial No. 667,655

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in bandages, and it has particular relation to a new and useful improvement in bandagesvof the ready-to-usewtype which are adapted.. to protect injuries to the thumb vand ngers.

In recent years, bandages of the ready-to-use type, for application to the thumb and iingers, have become popular. These members receive most of the day-to-day minor traumatic injuries. One of the most common forms of such bandages is sold under the trade name Band-Aid. These ready-to-use bandages are packaged in individual containers in a sterilized condition.

To apply one of these bandages, it is merely necessary to remove the wrapping and place the bandage upon the injured finger or thumb. Usually the bandages take the Vform of a strip of adhesive tape carrying a multi-ply pad of gauze or similar fabric'in the central portion thereof. In some cases, the pad is impregnated with an antiseptic material such as Mercurochrome or sulfa compound.

The strips of adhesive tape are of such lengths that they are in excess of the diameter of the average finger or thumb, so that where the ends come together, there is a bulky overlap.

This overlap is undesirable for several reasons. It constitutes a waste of material, and annoys the wearer. Furthermore, because of the overlap, the bandage tends to form a self-supporting section or cylinder, thereby separating from the finger to which applied. This is particularly true where the tape is rather heavy or stift.

The present invention provides a bandage of the ready-to-use type which eliminates these undesirable features. Accordingly, the object of this invention may be stated as being the provision of novel and improved bandages of the ready-to-use type, wherein: there is no overlapping of the ends; there is no wastage of material; and, the bandage does not constitute a selfsupporting section which tends to separate from the finger.

Other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of the invention, reference,

may now be had to the following detailed description thereof, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a conventional readyto-use type of bandage, illustrative ol the prior art;

2 Claims. (Cl. 12S-156) Figure 2 is an elevational View illustrating the application of the bandage of Figure 1 to a iinger or thumb; f Y Y Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

. VFigure 4 is a plan viewof an improved bandage of the ready-to-use type, provided in accordance with the teaching of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a view showing the application of the bandage of Figure 4 to a finger or thumb; and

Figure 6 is a. sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a conventional type of ready-to-use bandage for protection of injuries to the thumb and fingers, is indicated at Ill. The bandage I0 is in the form of a rectangular strip of adhesive tape or equivalent material I I, having square ends I2. The strip II is provided with pressure sensitive adhesive material, as indicated. y

A multi-ply pad I4 is carried midway between the ends I2. The pad I4 may be made up of plies of surgical gauge or like material. It may be impregnated with antiseptic agent.

Figures 2 and 3 show the manner in which the bandage I0 is applied to a iinger or thumb. The bandage Ill is of such length that when Aapplied to a finger, illustrated by the cylindrical section I5 in the drawings, there is an overlap of the ends I2, as shown in Figure 3. The result is a bulky and annoying irregularity in the otherwise smooth bandage.

`This overlap not only constitutes a waste of material to the extent of as much as 20%, but is also objectionable in that by having the overlap, a self-supporting cylindrical section is formed which on exure of the injured finger, tends to become separated therefrom.

In Figure 4 of the drawings, a bandage is indicated generally at 20, which forms one embodiment of my invention, and which eliminates the foregoing disadvantages of the conventional type ready-to-use bandage I0.

The bandage 20 comprises a strip 2| of adhesive tape, or equivalent material, and carries a multiply pad 22 intermediate the ends thereof. It will be noted that the strip 2|, when laid out at, takes the shape of a non-equilateral parallelogram. The ends 23 of the strip 2| are in the form of right triangles and carry a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive. The angles at the tips 25 should not be more than 45 in spread, and preferably should be around 40.

The relationship of the areas of the triangular Y `f What'is claimed as new is:

represented by the cylindrical section 26, is

shown. It will be noted that the endsV 23 do not overlap, but t neatly onto the nger 26 witha narrow marginal space 21 therebetween. .IfhiAsw fingers and comprising a supporting strip and a protective pad secured to the strip between the ends thereof, said strip when laid Vout atwise being in the shape of a non-equilateral parallelo--v gram with the end areas of said strip in the shape of right triangles and with theV angle of the end tips being not in excess of 45, pressure sensitive adhesive material being provided on each of the. ends. the .longer Sidesoi. idstrinheine approximately equal 1n 51e; t.Y finger or thumb circumference.

` 2. The bandage of claim 1 wherein the com- "bined area of said right triangular strip ends is space 21 may be somewhat wider Aor narrower than shown, depending upon the size of fthe nger 26.

There is no wastage o f materials, due tcbv'erlapping of the ends. The bandage 20 does not form a .selffsupporting fsection'tending to `separate Vfrom the ringer `2S. r.And,"the 4bandagefzt) is neat and of uniform thickness.

' 1. A b andage of the ready-to-use type adapted to protect' traumatic injuries Ito the thu-mb `or 'Iatleast equal to area 0f said strip.

the intermediate rectangular CHARLES s. BEARDSLEY.

` "'fnnFRENcEs CITED The-following references are of record in the iileafihintenti.d s Y Y Y narran =SEATESATENT i f-f -f Y 

